Bold headline: Alabama’s college license plates reveal where support runs strongest—and where it’s weakest.
But here’s the essential takeaway: Alabama issued more than 250,000 specialty vehicle tags for in-state colleges between October 2024 and September 2025, underscoring a strong interest in school affinity across the state.
Leading the pack is the University of Alabama–Tuscaloosa, which accounts for roughly half of all tags, with well over 120,000 licenses bearing its branding according to figures from the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Rounding out the top five are Auburn University, Troy University, Alabama A&M University, and Jacksonville State University. Together, these five institutions account for nearly 230,000 of the specialty plates.
As a note, purchasing a specialty plate typically costs an extra $50, and the proceeds from these Alabama college plates are allocated to scholarships for Alabama residents.
Kayode Crown, an investigative reporter with AL.com in Huntsville, authored this piece. His prior work includes stints with the Mississippi Free Press and Jackson Free Press in Mississippi, as well as The Hope Newspaper in Nigeria, enriching his broad experience in education and local reporting.
Discussion prompts: Do you think the distribution of plates accurately reflects campus popularity, or might it be influenced by other factors like statewide recruitment efforts or alumni networks? What are your thoughts on directing plate funds to scholarships—should the allocation be standardized across all affected universities, or tailored to each campus’s specific needs? Share your views in the comments.
